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Post by Perceptor on Jan 13, 2009 1:30:58 GMT -5
With all the various repairs and work to be done, Perceptor's recharge once he and Grimlock had returned with the alternate Hook had been fitful and restless at best. At least until Holi had returned from working with the others performing the security sweep upon the arena and surrounding area and had firmly pushed "the Doctor" back into a quiet corner and, arms crossed over his chest, had ordered him to rest.
Holi had promptly stammered out a swift apology for presuming, but Perceptor had been so charmed by the Micromaster's protectiveness that he'd waved off the apology, quietly thanked Holi for looking out for him, and asked if Holi would keep him company while he rested.
It had been some of the best recharge he'd had since arriving on Gillanan. And very... comforting... somehow, to awaken and find Holi still watching over him.
Thus, Perceptor's spirits are high when he finally creeps out of one of the hidden tunnels leading to the surface, slipping into the sunlight with a surprised little blink. He'd been in recharge longer than he'd assumed!
Well, then perhaps Hook has had an opportunity to spec out a lens or two while Perceptor has been offline. Checking his surroundings for watchers - not that he is particularly skilled in counter-tracking, however he does have some significant practice in simple observation, what with that being his function and all - he treks off through the woods to a trail and heads toward the temple and arena area, hoping to run across either Hook, himself, or someone who could direct him to the Constructicon.
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Hook-3
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Post by Hook-3 on Jan 13, 2009 12:29:35 GMT -5
The Construction sits tucked into a corner of the arena, sand running through his fingers as he shapes crystal into a lens. Another one sits on his knee, artfully shaped already.
He seems quite focused on the task, almost as if to avoid focusing on other topics.
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 13, 2009 18:47:22 GMT -5
The rest of the arena seems quietly deserted when Perceptor spots that smudge of lime green ensconced in a distant corner. A fruitful search, then!
As he approaches, he notes that studious focus, although it honestly does not occur to him that Hook might be hiding in the work. Perceptor is quite used to tuning out the world around him when he works half the time, himself, and so Hook's posture and behavio hardly seem odd to him. He doesn't try to sneak, as Perceptor is aware that such an action, so soon after Hook's captivity, might actually alarm the constructicon, however he does make an effort not to stomp across the intervening distance.
"Greetings, Hook."
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Hook-3
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Post by Hook-3 on Jan 16, 2009 17:49:05 GMT -5
Hook looks up from working on the lens warily as he hears someone crossing the arena. He tenses at the sight of the red microscope, then his optics power-down for a brief moment.
He deliberately relaxes himself before answering. "Perceptor. I've been working on your lenses."
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 16, 2009 19:48:53 GMT -5
Perceptor had not expected that Hook would be particularly pleased to see him. He does, after all, still share the outward physical appearance with one of Hook's vilest foes, and years of conditioning are not so easily put on hiatus because of a single conversation. That Hook can relax at all is a hopeful sign, however.
"So I see," Perceptor observes as he kneels so as not to loom. "I... I cannot thank you enough for your assistance, Hook. What can I do?" He doesn't clarify if he is asking what he can do to repay Hook for his kindness, or if he is merely asking how he might help the Constructicon with the project.
It's an intentional oversight; he's asking both.
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Hook-3
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Post by Hook-3 on Jan 17, 2009 23:39:42 GMT -5
"I could use more solid-state cutters. Something I could mount a blade on myself would be ideal." Hook sets down the lens he has been working on and shows what is in his hand - a crystal scraper, one edge blackened but wicked sharp.
"This would be more convenient with a handle."
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 19, 2009 13:41:45 GMT -5
Perceptor nods in absent agreement as he examines the tool that Hook displays. "Ah," he murmurs, optics narrowed in thought for a moment.
One one hand, they are still maintaining a separation between the Autobots and the good Decepticon Alternates for security purposes. On the other hand... Well, Perceptor knows how he would appreciate a real work area after being cut off from one for an extended period of time. And that is where all of his few scraped together materials and tools are.
Additionally, his work area is at the very edges of the "Autobot areas" of the tunnels, since he tends to remove himself from as many distractions as possible.
Xaaron would be most put out, though. Kup would likely construct a brig simply to have the satisfaction of throwing him in it for breeching their dubious security in such a manner.
Perceptor misses home. Rather, he misses his laboratory and his tools and equipment. And his friends. He is lucky, however, to have not suffered what this Hook has, and he yanks his thoughts back around with a silent admonishment to not be ungrateful for what he does have.
"I believe that I have some materials which would suit admirably for such a purpose," he offers. "Additionally..."
Xaaron already distrusts him anyway. And Kup... Perhaps Kup may eventually understand how badly Perceptor needs to prove that he is not his Alternate.
"Additionally, I can provide a small workshop. If... If you would prefer?"
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Hook-3
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Post by Hook-3 on Jan 21, 2009 22:43:57 GMT -5
"I..." Hook's visor blinks. Having a workshop to do this all in would be quite lovely. Seeing all of the chemical apparatus Perceptor used in his science- A tremor ran through him.
"I think that would help," he says carefully, obviously reluctant. "It would make preparing the crystal go more quickly."
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 21, 2009 22:53:37 GMT -5
Hook is reluctant, and Perceptor has a very good idea why. He would probably be quite reluctant to be led off to Shockwave's haven to work, too.
"If it would be more suitable," he offers, compromising, "if you have a location where you feel more comfortable, then I would be able to bring my workshop equipment there, instead?"
That would probably keep Xaaron and Kup happier, too. Plus... well... He really should be thinking about everyone else's safety. He trusts this Hook - Perceptor trusts too easily, though - but there is always the chance that something could happen.
And if Hook does not have a specific location already in mind, then he can easily find one to suit his needs while Perceptor fetches everything from his dark little corner in the tunnels.
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Hook-3
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Post by Hook-3 on Jan 22, 2009 15:40:55 GMT -5
"No," Hook says, squashing down the desire to cry out 'yes!'. "Do you know what equipment I would need? I certainly do not know what equipment you have. The wasted time might prove valuable."
He carefully stows his crystal scraper and the half-finished lens, then steels himself to offer the finished lens to Perceptor. "Lead me to your lab. I will... make this work."
He is Hook. He has important things to do, and nothing will stop him from doing them. Not even himself.
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 22, 2009 17:10:34 GMT -5
"Alas... I am afraid that I do not have much left," Perceptor replies shaking his head. "Most of what equipment I had procured was destroyed during the attack which forced our retreat."
"But I have replaced some."
Primarily because a bored Perceptor is... well... never a good thing. Besides, a bored Perceptor finds things to fill his time, and once essential repairs had been performed on everyone, replacing necessary tools and equipment had come next.
He automatically accepts the object Hook offers to him without, at first, realizing what it is. As soon as his fingers close around the smooth crystal, however, all thoughts of missing equipment and any misgivings about bringing Hook down into their tunnels vanish as he avidly studies the lens.
"Ohhh.... Oh my..." he murmurs, holding it up to the light, and then bringing it close to his optics to study it in detail. "This is... flawless..." Stunned happy scientist is stunned and happy. To have a lens back in his possession... He begins to understand what Hook might have felt when Perceptor had offered him tools out there in the desert beside a giant crystal cage. Were he human, he might weep from the relief of having his entire purpose returned to him.
"Th-this way," he observes distractedly as he turns and begins leading the way back to his workshop, still coveting the shaped crysal.
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Hook-3
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Post by Hook-3 on Jan 27, 2009 0:00:18 GMT -5
"That is better than I have," Hook says quietly. He sounds weary, lost, and for a brief moment, his guard falls away, and he looks as weary and lost as he sounds. In the next moment, it's up again once more, pride serving as a powerful shield.
A small smile cracks that shield as Perceptor flutters over his new lens, and the Constructicon follows the microscope quietly.
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 30, 2009 21:07:07 GMT -5
Distracted though he may be by his newest possession, Perceptor still remembers to take a bit of a circuitous route to a tunnel mouth that he, as far as he has been able to discern, has been the only one to use. Less inconvenience to the others, that way, if, for some unforeseen reason, he is forced to collapse the entrance.
Once underground, however, his route is direct, straight to the alcove he has claimed as his own. It might have once been a maintinence bay for the excavators and equipment once used to create and then service these very tunnels, one upon a time. It is at least tall enough that neither of them is forced to stoop, and has quite obviously been scrupulously cleaned - the better to see the notes and equations and plans scratched into the plating on the walls where they are not covered by tools and furniture and supplies.
One wall is dominated by a bench cobbled together from heavy plating taken from other damaged tunnels and shaped stone and ceramcrete. Its surface is empty, save for a neat array of tools - mostly basic things used for fabricating armor and parts - and what looks like it will eventually become an automatic fabricator, given time and parts. Another wall is blocked by a sturdy array of crates laid out in what is obviously meant to be a resting berth, but looks as if it has been doubling as a workbench as well, what with a few bits of partially fabricated armor - for Grimlock, to replace what he will likely get blasted or torn off in the inevitable next battle, since the Dinobot Commander has been so hard on his externals lately - lying there in a neat stack. The relatively small alcove is fairly well lit with a mish-mash of different fixtures that have obviously been scavenged from a wide variety of sources, and all installed in the ceiling and walls. The last wall is stacked high with raw materials and electronic components that look to have been scavenged from as wide a variety of sources as the lights had been, as well as a stack of crates upon which rests a computer terminal with fresh welds in its case and a hand-held scanner connected with a few link cables. Lastly, tucked into the corner nearest the open archway of the alcove is another small stack of crates, and upon it, an unobtrusive and fairly basic little energon converter/still that is tapped into the power distrobution cables that line the tunnels. The extent of the chemical apparatus that Hook has been dreading seeing is clustered around it - a retort to distill out a shot or two of higher grade from the thin trickle of energon the tiny converter produces, and a few flasks that look as if they double as drinking containers, one of which is currently being used to collect that thin trickle of produced energon.
On the floor beside the stack of crates is an empty little metal pan, and a forlorn looking little mechadragon who perks up at Perceptor's entrance and warbles a soft sound of pathetic entreaty as she flicks the empty bowl with the tip of one wing.
That, finally, manages to distract Perceptor from fussing over and examining the lens he has been carefully coveting the entire way back. "Hello, Tiny," he greets, carefully placing the lens upon the workbench before returning to the energon still. "I am sorry, little one, but I did not procure any batteries for you this time," he observes sadly as he kneels to scritch her under her chin. "You will have to make do with a little energon, instead, I am afraid."
He reaches up, fetching the flask under the converter nozzle, replacing it with another, and pours a little of the energon into the empty pan. It isn't very good energon, a little impure and not as potent as he would prefer, but the young mechadragon likely would not tolerate a purer blend anyway. Not yet, at any rate. With the stress of confinement to the tunnels, a richer blend could very well shock her systems into stasis, or even cascade failure, and she has been through so much already.
"It is not much, but, please, utilize anything which you wish to," he offers, rising to face Hook.
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Hook-3
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Post by Hook-3 on Jan 31, 2009 16:27:44 GMT -5
Hook eyes the little mecha-dragon mistrustfully. The horrid creature has a tendency to chew out people's optics if it goes unfed.
The Constructicon frowns at the energon still, resisting the urge to go over there and tinker with it to produce a more efficient energy-tap. That is not what he is here for. At all. Instead, Hook rummages through the scavenged pile, looking for a handle he can attach to his crystal scraper.
"You might brew some enertea," he suggests, "To enhance the potency of your current energon."
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 31, 2009 21:52:08 GMT -5
Oh, not this one. Not when she has a sucker like Perceptor to beg from. Perhaps Hook has something tasty to share? Tiny shuffles over, looking pathetic as she tries to nose at Hook's leg, sniffing him for tasty treats like a forgotten battery or an energon goody, or even a little forgotten oil, perhaps?
"Hmm?" Perceptor asks, then glances over his shoulder at the little converter. "Oh. That is primarily for Tiny," he replies with a small smile. "Although, I must admit that I would not mind a bit of enertea."
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